First, Corday discusses Crystal Chappell's return and how it came about. Corday says he "tipped the first domino" and asked "the producer and writer" for a "big story" for Bo and Hope which would run from this fall to next spring. Corday clarifies the type of story he wanted: "not just an open and closed-ended kidnapping/bad dreams/Shawn dies kind of long-range story". He says "they put their minds to it" and they asked him what he'd think about bringing back Crystal Chappell. He responded, 'Well, we played the Billie card a lot', and he told them he didn't think anyone currently on the canvas was "viable" in a story with Bo and Hope, "including Justin, who will be back soon". He continued that 'the only person in the past for both of them is Carly'. So then they decided to see if Chappell was interested, and she was. Corday says that currently "they're cooking story" and that it will be "official in writing" soon, "but it is a big story".

Corday then addresses the issue of, as he puts it, "why bring her back as opposed to someone else". He answers his own question by saying that first of all, "no one else is as viable", but then he continues, "yes, it's been 16 years and I believe - not because Peter was nominated for his first Emmy - but I believe that it's more interesting to see Bo torn between two women than Hope torn between two men." He continues by saying that "the time seems right", and that Chappell will be bringing a "huge audience" from GL. He says Carly will "enter with a bang", he continues that "it's nice to have another doctor in the hospital", and he laughs and says that also, "it's going to be wonderful to hear Bo say 'Caaarly'".

Corday discusses Wally Kurth next. Corday says Kurth's role will be recurring and will fit in "the Daniel/Philip story". Justin will be the "consiglieri in that mafia family" and "maybe more of a voice of reason than any of them".

SOD then asks Corday about the fact that Chappell and Kurth are returning while fan favorites were let go. Corday says that "it was a matter of choosing amongst three very powerful couples" and deciding which to keep on the show and play. Corday continues that "by the time this happens in September" John and Marlena will have been off the show for nine months, and "Patch and Kayla the same". He says that the show did not decide to bring Carly back at the same time that John, Marlena, Patch and Kayla were written off. Corday continues that we shouldn't "do a price check" because "John and Marlena and Patch and Kayla are not even in the same store." He says further, "for the ardent John and Marlena and Patch and Kayla fans, great, you can still see them at their luncheons. That was then, this is now." Corday says that the first time he visited his father at the ATWT studios, his father was going over the next day's show with the cast, and the cast would ask him how he could do certain things now when a month ago the show did something else. Corday says his father took a large crayon and wrote on the wall, "That was then, this is now." Corday concludes this idea by saying that "for the most part, our viewers are involved with what the story is today."

Next, Corday discusses the future of the show. He says that "the most important six months in this history of the show thus far will be September through March of 2010." He says the ratings for those six months will determine "whether we're picked up for another year into March of 2011".

As for what story lies ahead, Corday says, "There's a certain direction we're going in this summer." He says this is "a conscious direction", where younger stories will be played but won't be driving the story when summer ends. He continues that "we have big stuff planned." "The bomb ticks and will blow into the fall" for the EJ/Sami/Nicole story. The story will have a "huge conclusion", and because Ari Zucker is pregnant, "we have a way to write Nicole out." He continues previewing the fall stories, saying that "Bo/Hope/Carly/Daniel" will be going on. Corday says, "I do like Stephanie/Philip", and he says also that "I am a fan of Molly Burnett. She has a color like no one else on the show. Very out there and glib, but real." He says Molly will be working with Mark Hapka [Nathan].

The article concludes by saying that overall, Corday is happy with Days now, and Corday says he was "especially thrilled with the performances and writing for Grace's death".

From the SOD Insider email:

TALES FROM THE INTERVIEW

Stephanie Sloane: I recently spoke to DAYS's Executive Producer, Ken Corday, about the returns of Crystal Chappell as Carly and Wally Kurth as Justin. He had so much to say about the state of DAYS and its future that we made it into this week's cover story. Corday was still raving about the amazing scenes during and after Grace's death, praising the actors involved for their wonderful performances. He also talked about the "cross-pollinating" between characters that Head Writer Dena Higley had planned, noting, "It's not a matter of just choosing to mix and match people. It's organic and that's a good writer." To that end, he gave a brief preview of what's coming up and explained that "the most important six months in the history of the show thus far will be September through March of 2010. Our ratings for those six months will basically determine the future of the show and whether we're picked up for another year into March of 2011." To see what else he has to say, check out the next issue.